In Praise of Adaptability
A proposal: if we are going to study something as important and mysterious as Gregorian chant, we ought to be able to perform it convincingly in several different ways.
Articles
EWTN Broadcast • Sacred Music by MacMillan + Eight Emerging Composers
This coming Saturday (8 July) at 7:00pm, EWTN will be broadcasting …
William Byrd: Quatercentenary of Death
“And yet I may live and die a true and perfect member of his holy Catholic Church without which I believe there is no salvation for me.” —William Byrd
“A Patriotic Hymnal” • (Not Kidding!)
“Hymns for the Use of the Catholic Church in America” was published in Baltimore more than 200 years ago.
The Golden Rule and Mocquereau’s Method
Dom Mocquereau’s editions are a compromise between tradition and paleography. This explains his sometimes surprising semiological conclusions.
Gregorian Rhythm Wars • “Patrick’s Fourth Reply to Jeff” (4 July 2023)
“It is disingenuous and ludicrous to inject the notion of hallucination and magic into the historical narrative.” —Patrick Williams
“Six Suggestions” • Working with Volunteer Choirs
One priest on this committee said something I’ll never forget…
Some Thoughts on Gregorian Modal Ethos
You should memorize this list.
“The Use of Plainsong in Heretical Worship” • (Letter by Dom Gregory Murray)
“Unless Catholic musicians (especially priests) are careful, they may easily encourage non-Catholics in the belief that the differences between Catholics and non-Catholics are of minor importance.” —Dom Murray
Gregorian Rhythm Wars • Video: “Introduction to Mensuralism” (28 June 2023)
“If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a video has to be worth at least 1.8 million words.” —Dr. James McQuivey
CRCCM Repertoire Project Released!
The Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians (CRCCM) has just launched a remarkable free resource offering recommendations of choral music, antiphons, propers, and more for all Sundays of the liturgical calendar, solemnities, and Ritual Masses.
PDF Download • Extremely Rare! • “Liber Cantus Gregoriani” (1950) — 1,864 pages!
Church musicians ought not proceed in a frenzied, panic-stricken manner.
“We’re In Financial Trouble!” • (June 2023)
We must avoid placing our website behind a paywall.
“Text-Informed Performance Practice in Chant”
“The older responsorial method is more in accord with a right understanding of this text.” —Patrick Williams
Richard J. Clark’s “Salve Regina”
“Thanks, Richard, for another accessible and mellifluous motet!” —Chris Mueller